Trooper remains in hospital after shooting; suspect at large

Published: Sunday, December 29, 2013 at 7:29 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, December 29, 2013 at 7:29 p.m.

Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Lawrence Andrew Litzell remained in stable condition at UF Health Shands Hospital Sunday after being shot in the head a day earlier during a foot chase in Palatka.

Litzell was being treated in the Intensive Care Unit on Sunday after being shot in the face, according to Litzell's mother-in-law, who was babysitting Litzell's children Sunday afternoon.

The FHP said on Saturday that Litzell had been airlifted to Shands after the shooting. Shands hospital on Sunday said that Litzell was not listed in their records as being in the hospital.

The trooper had been engaged in a shootout with Somourian Jamal Wingo, 24, of Palatka, who was killed. A second unidentified suspect fled and his whereabouts were unknown late Sunday.

The FHP on Sunday declined to release any additional information about the shooting, saying the incident is still under investigation.

The FHP referred media questions to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which is handling a portion of the investigation. The FDLE, in turn, referred reporters to the FHP.

On Saturday, the FHP did provide a limited version of events. The agency reported that Litzell had pulled over a maroon Mercury Grand Marquis in a parking lot near a park just off the St. Johns River near downtown Palatka at around 12:45 a.m.

The reason for the traffic stop remained unclear on Sunday. Wingo and the other man got out of the car and began running away, the FHP said.

Litzell ran after Wingo, and about 100 yards from where he had pulled over the car Litzell was shot in the face but managed to return fire, hitting Wingo.

Wingo was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators reported recovering a .25-caliber semiautomatic handgun at the scene.

Litzell, an 11 year veteran, has been placed on administrative leave with pay during the investigation, per FHP policy.

Wingo served time in state prison from 2010 to 2012 on a cocaine conviction from St. Johns County, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.

<p>Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Lawrence Andrew Litzell remained in stable condition at UF Health Shands Hospital Sunday after being shot in the head a day earlier during a foot chase in Palatka.</p><p>Litzell was being treated in the Intensive Care Unit on Sunday after being shot in the face, according to Litzell's mother-in-law, who was babysitting Litzell's children Sunday afternoon.</p><p>The FHP said on Saturday that Litzell had been airlifted to Shands after the shooting. Shands hospital on Sunday said that Litzell was not listed in their records as being in the hospital.</p><p>The trooper had been engaged in a shootout with Somourian Jamal Wingo, 24, of Palatka, who was killed. A second unidentified suspect fled and his whereabouts were unknown late Sunday.</p><p>The FHP on Sunday declined to release any additional information about the shooting, saying the incident is still under investigation.</p><p>The FHP referred media questions to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which is handling a portion of the investigation. The FDLE, in turn, referred reporters to the FHP.</p><p>On Saturday, the FHP did provide a limited version of events. The agency reported that Litzell had pulled over a maroon Mercury Grand Marquis in a parking lot near a park just off the St. Johns River near downtown Palatka at around 12:45 a.m.</p><p>The reason for the traffic stop remained unclear on Sunday. Wingo and the other man got out of the car and began running away, the FHP said.</p><p>Litzell ran after Wingo, and about 100 yards from where he had pulled over the car Litzell was shot in the face but managed to return fire, hitting Wingo.</p><p>Wingo was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators reported recovering a .25-caliber semiautomatic handgun at the scene.</p><p>Litzell, an 11 year veteran, has been placed on administrative leave with pay during the investigation, per FHP policy.</p><p>Wingo served time in state prison from 2010 to 2012 on a cocaine conviction from St. Johns County, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.</p>